ON PROFESSIONAL READINGS
By Simon Bastian. Tarot Reader.
For anyone seeking a reading, whether in Tarot, Runes or any other form of Divination:
Try to get references for the reader. Shop around. Transparency and complete honesty is an essential.
Being registered with a centre which keeps the reader’s personal records and having signed a code of
professional conduct declaration are good safeguards. Probably a majority of readers are neither
registered with any presiding authority nor have signed any such form binding them to professional
standards.
Decide whether you want to consult a ‘psychic/medium’ or someone who doesn’t claim to be psychic. In
Tarot reading there is a definite difference between consultations that may claim to give insights into
other dimensions, or channel spirit guides/ relatives who have passed on, or predict the future, and
ones that act to guide the client in a more mundane way, as providing insight into the best course of
action to take. This is not to make any value judgment on either path - just to advise that there is a
difference.
Once you have chosen someone with reasonable credentials, ideally make sure the reading is fairly
immediate and not booked if possible. Certainly do not give your name away. It’s not unknown for
unscrupulous individuals to look up clients’ details on the internet before a reading, to bolster an
impression of having incredible insight.
As a client try to frame your questions carefully. For example, asking if you will win the lottery is a
matter of chance. And if you want to know if you will be happy, that I would say greatly depends on
personal attitude.
Be aware of ‘cold reading’ (and this applies to readers as well as clients). You know the sort of thing;
‘You’ve recently separated from your partner’. ‘Amazing. How did you know?’ (Mark left by missing
wedding ring). And so forth. As I say, it’s sometimes difficult for readers to avoid accidently picking up
these signals, but the true professional separates themselves from such impressions as much as
possible.
Generalisation is another element to notice. Such as turning up the Death card and telling the client they
are going to face change and transformation over the next year (and sometimes the card represents an
actual death, although we prefer to read it less traumatically). Everyone goes through change over a
year - that’s pretty obvious.
This is where the card’s position in the spread and relation to the other cards clarifies a situation,
instead of reading text-book interpretations singly. An experienced reader will also have acquired their
own extensive view of what is attributed as meaning including the complex interrelationships.
Sometimes a client will want to express the particular circumstances that they are seeking help with.
Others remain silent throughout. (I don’t personally mind if someone wishes to talk about what is
concerning them. It can help to lend clarity. It’s not ‘cheating’, because we’re not (all) mind readers).
Be aware too of Diversion Tactics. One client told me they had a reading with someone who kept asking
them leading questions instead of actually telling them anything informative. The reader also kept
looking at his watch to check how long was left for the session. Not good. A session should be dictated
by the amount of information arising from the reading; set duration is mainly just a loose and adjustable
indicator.
Another reader I was told about mixed four or five packs together and then channelled a spirit guide. An
elaboration of adding packs is unnecessary; one deck in itself has enough attributions to cover the
entirety of human experience. You don’t get better value for your money by adding more cards! As for
spirit guides giving advice, it is said that the Tarot and I Ching have their own forms of intelligence
attributed to them, and whether this is believed or not a reading does not require an additional
‘presence’.
People can be incredibly open when they come to a reading. It’s the duty of the reader to respect that
openness and not exploit it. As for most practices, anyone charging exorbitant amounts of money should
be avoided.
If you are unhappy with a reading insist on a refund. Better still, only pay afterwards. And lodge a
complaint wherever possible.
Simon Bastian. Tarot Reader.
By Simon Bastian. Tarot Reader.
For anyone seeking a reading, whether in Tarot, Runes or any other form of Divination:
Try to get references for the reader. Shop around. Transparency and complete honesty is an essential.
Being registered with a centre which keeps the reader’s personal records and having signed a code of
professional conduct declaration are good safeguards. Probably a majority of readers are neither
registered with any presiding authority nor have signed any such form binding them to professional
standards.
Decide whether you want to consult a ‘psychic/medium’ or someone who doesn’t claim to be psychic. In
Tarot reading there is a definite difference between consultations that may claim to give insights into
other dimensions, or channel spirit guides/ relatives who have passed on, or predict the future, and
ones that act to guide the client in a more mundane way, as providing insight into the best course of
action to take. This is not to make any value judgment on either path - just to advise that there is a
difference.
Once you have chosen someone with reasonable credentials, ideally make sure the reading is fairly
immediate and not booked if possible. Certainly do not give your name away. It’s not unknown for
unscrupulous individuals to look up clients’ details on the internet before a reading, to bolster an
impression of having incredible insight.
As a client try to frame your questions carefully. For example, asking if you will win the lottery is a
matter of chance. And if you want to know if you will be happy, that I would say greatly depends on
personal attitude.
Be aware of ‘cold reading’ (and this applies to readers as well as clients). You know the sort of thing;
‘You’ve recently separated from your partner’. ‘Amazing. How did you know?’ (Mark left by missing
wedding ring). And so forth. As I say, it’s sometimes difficult for readers to avoid accidently picking up
these signals, but the true professional separates themselves from such impressions as much as
possible.
Generalisation is another element to notice. Such as turning up the Death card and telling the client they
are going to face change and transformation over the next year (and sometimes the card represents an
actual death, although we prefer to read it less traumatically). Everyone goes through change over a
year - that’s pretty obvious.
This is where the card’s position in the spread and relation to the other cards clarifies a situation,
instead of reading text-book interpretations singly. An experienced reader will also have acquired their
own extensive view of what is attributed as meaning including the complex interrelationships.
Sometimes a client will want to express the particular circumstances that they are seeking help with.
Others remain silent throughout. (I don’t personally mind if someone wishes to talk about what is
concerning them. It can help to lend clarity. It’s not ‘cheating’, because we’re not (all) mind readers).
Be aware too of Diversion Tactics. One client told me they had a reading with someone who kept asking
them leading questions instead of actually telling them anything informative. The reader also kept
looking at his watch to check how long was left for the session. Not good. A session should be dictated
by the amount of information arising from the reading; set duration is mainly just a loose and adjustable
indicator.
Another reader I was told about mixed four or five packs together and then channelled a spirit guide. An
elaboration of adding packs is unnecessary; one deck in itself has enough attributions to cover the
entirety of human experience. You don’t get better value for your money by adding more cards! As for
spirit guides giving advice, it is said that the Tarot and I Ching have their own forms of intelligence
attributed to them, and whether this is believed or not a reading does not require an additional
‘presence’.
People can be incredibly open when they come to a reading. It’s the duty of the reader to respect that
openness and not exploit it. As for most practices, anyone charging exorbitant amounts of money should
be avoided.
If you are unhappy with a reading insist on a refund. Better still, only pay afterwards. And lodge a
complaint wherever possible.
Simon Bastian. Tarot Reader.
